What Gongqiu Cheng said is not wrong.
Sun Jian was having a very difficult time in Yu Province.
Aside from his background, his position as Governor of Yu Province was not officially appointed by the imperial court, but rather by Yuan Shu.
His name was not righteous, and his words were not smooth.
This also led to him often having his enthusiasm met with coldness when dealing with the gentry of Yu Province.
Otherwise, how could he, the dignified Governor of Yu Province, with six commanderies under his control, need to rely on Yuan Shu for grain and fodder?
Yu Province is not poor.
He just couldn't collect grain.
The crucial thing is...
He couldn't kill these people.
Sun Jian killed Wang Rui because he was arrogant and contemptuous, not only looking down on Sun Jian but also threatening to execute Prefect of Changsha Cao Yin and others, making him very unpopular in Jing Province.
So Cao Yin and others allied with Sun Jian, found an excuse, and killed him.
He killed Zhang Zi because, when the nation was in peril, Zhang Zi, being a two-thousand-dan official of a neighboring state, refused to give him grain and fodder.
From Sun Jian's perspective, what's yours and what's mine? Isn't it all of the Han Dynasty?
If you, Zhang Zi, refuse to give me grain and fodder, then you are a traitor.
He should be killed!
Moreover, as a Prefect of Changsha, he didn't need to consider governing Jing Province and Nanyang, so killing him was of no consequence.
However, ever since he was appointed Governor of Yu Province by Yuan Shu, Sun Jian truly regarded Yu Province as his own territory.
Since he wanted to govern it well, he naturally couldn't just casually kill people.
But how could he, a mere warrior, firmly hold the position of Governor of Yu Province, a place teeming with gentry?
In Yu Province, his words were far less effective than Yuan Shu's.
Yanzhou was different.
What was Cai Yong's status?
As long as he could get a letter from him, the gentry of Yanzhou would at least give him some respect.
Originally, with Sun Jian's status, he couldn't have climbed to Cai Yong's high branch.
But if Zhang Xin introduced him, it would be different...
As soon as he thot of this, Sun Jian became anxious, scratching his ears and cheeks, wishing he could fly to Yanzhou the next second.
I don't want to stay in Yu Province for another moment!
Fortunately, after a few days, Xu Kun returned.
"How was it?" Sun Jian quickly asked.
"Military Advisor Xun asked uncle to lead the army to attack Changyi."
Xu Kun babbled on...
Changyi was both the seat of Sanyang Commandery and the provincial capital of Yanzhou, and the families of Liu Dai and Yuan Yi were all there.
As long as Sun Jian sent troops to attack Changyi, Liu Dai would definitely retreat.
"Why is it Military Advisor Xun?"
Sun Jian was stunned upon hearing this, "What about Lord? Is he really dead?"
"No, no."
Xu Kun shook his head repeatedly, "Lord has his own plans and is currently not present. In the army, Military Advisor Xun and General Zhang Liaos courtesy name are in charge."
"I knew it, with Lord's ability, how could he be killed by Dong Zhuo?"
Sun Jian breathed a sigh of relief, then asked, "Then, about the Governor of Yanzhou position..."
"Military Advisor Xun agreed to it."
Xu Kun smiled, "The Military Advisor said that after he reunites with Lord, he will explain to Lord about uncle's assistance."
For other matters, Xun You might not have the authority to agree.
But Zhang Xin's desire to support Sun Jian as Governor of Yanzhou was something he knew about.
Although Zhang Xin had won some battles, the current history had already been disrupted by him, and he didn't know how the world situation would develop in the future.
After all, even Cao Cao had become a subordinate of Cai Mao...
For such a big matter, he would definitely discuss it with Xun You first before telling Sun Jian.
Xun You fully agreed with Zhang Xin's idea.
Yanzhou was a place of four battles, easy to attack and difficult to defend.
But a place of four battles also meant that one could attack from four sides.
If Zhang Xin took down Ji Province, then Pingyuan in Qing Province and Ye City in Ji Province would both be threatened from the Yanzhou side.
Such an important strategic location, logically speaking, should of course be held in one's own hands to feel secure.
However, he temporarily couldn't spare the effort to take it.
Therefore, having Sun Jian guard Yanzhou and protect the safety of Zhang Xin's hinterland was naturally the best choice.
Sun Jian was overjoyed at the news and immediately ordered the army to assemble, marching majestically toward Yanzhou under the banner of executing national traitors.
...
Yuyang.
After Zhang Xin took over another five hundred men from Gu Yong, his total military strength reached nearly six thousand.
To allow these six thousand troops to pass thru Yuyang silently, Zhang Xin abandoned the cavalry configuration of onpon reaching Zhang River, a small boat detached from the fleet and sailed toward Qing Province.